A day later, Belichick even more steamed about Welker hit on Talib

Monday

Jan 20, 2014 at 11:22 AM

FOXBORO -- Almost nobody who wore a white uniform during the Patriots' season-ending loss to the Denver Broncos had seen a replay of the Wes Welker collision with Aqib Talib -- or, at least, had anything to say about it.

Brian MacPherson Journal Sports Writer brianmacp

FOXBORO -- Almost nobody who wore a white uniform during the Patriots' season-ending loss to the Denver Broncos had seen a replay of the Wes Welker collision with Aqib Talib -- or, at least, had anything to say about it.

"I haven't seen it yet," safety Steve Gregory said. "I just remember being on the field when the collision happened. I haven't seen a replay of it or anything like that."

"I didn't get to watch it yet," safety Devin McCourty said.

"I didn't really see the play," quarterback Tom Brady said in a scheduled appearance on WEEI. "The game ended, I went to the locker room and was on the bus and flew home and woke up this morning. I haven't turned on the TV or anything.."

Bill Belichick had seen the film -- and the normally tight-lipped coach had something to say about it on Monday.

"I was asked about the hit on Talib, and I feel badly for Aqib," Belichick said, unprompted by any question about the play at his season-ending, wrap-up press conference at Gillette Stadium. "I went back and watched it. I didn't have a chance to yesterday. It was a deliberate play by the receiver to take out Aqib. No attempt to get open. I'll let the league handle the discipline on that play, whatever they decide. It's one of the worst plays I've seen. That's all I'll say about that."

Only one Patriots player -- 13-year veteran Andre Carter -- offered a similar take.

"It was a nasty play," Carter said. "We'll have to see what the league does."

(View two of the video loops of the hit circulating on Twitter here and here)

Welker appeared to collide intentionally with Talib to free up Demaryius Thomas on a pass over the middle early in the second quarter. Talib went down and stayed down, and he did not return to the game.

The maneuver itself was not unusual. Offenses across the league -- the Patriots included -- increasingly use basketball-style picks to get their wide receivers open. Those picks can happen at the line of scrimmage as the wide receivers are getting into their routes, and they can happen just as the ball is arriving at its target down the field.

According to the NFL rule book, the play can be flagged for offensive pass interference if the contact happens while the ball is in the air -- but not if it happens as the ball is being touched by the wide receiver catching it.

"The game has evolved to that -- with bunches and stacks and guys trying to create separation, especially in man coverage," Gregory said. "Receivers try to rub routes -- pick plays, is what they're called -- to try to create separation for guys so the quarterback can get the ball in there. It's kind of become part of the game nowadays."

"I would say most all teams in the league do it," Belichick said.

Belichick swatted aside a follow-up question about the hit, so it's unclear if he meant that he believed Welker -- who played for the Patriots for six seasons before signing with Denver last March -- had intended to injure Talib or simply intended to initiate a collision.

"It's tough to say somebody would do that," McCourty said, "but all of us out there would do anything to try to win that game."

Welker denied any malicious intent after the game.

"It was one of those plays where it's kind of a rough play," he said. "I was trying to get him to go over the top, and I think he was thinking the same thing and wanted to come underneath and we just kind of collided. It wasn't a deal where I was trying to hit him or anything like that. I hope he's OK. He's a great player and a big part of their defense."

The Welker hit sidelined Talib for the rest of the game -- the second straight AFC title game the Pro Bowl cornerback has exited early with injury. Talib again is a free agent, and the play might have been his last in a Patriots uniform. He intercepted four passes this season, and Patriots coaches credited him with 13 pass breakups during the regular season.

Certainly, the loss of Talib had a significant impact on the Patriots' defense. Without Talib, the Patriots had to line up Alfonzo Dennard and Logan Ryan across from Thomas -- and both were overmatched. Thomas finished the game with seven catches for 134 yards.

"Aqib is a heck of a football player for us," Gregory said. "He matches up against what we consider the top receiver week in and week out. He's a leader. He's a competitive guy, a guy that's going to give you everything he's got. You never want to a lose a guy like that, but at the same time, guys need to step up, guys need to be ready to play like we've done all year long. When one guy goes down, another guy has to step in -- but by no means is it easy to replace a guy like Aqib."